Roller vacuum extractor



Dec. T8, [928. ($695,974

- G. PEEBLES ROLLER VACUUM nx'rmcro'a Filed Sept. 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 H 40 7 4 '1 m L amoentpv G EORGE PEG/31.63

- Dec. 1-8, 1928.

G. PEEBLES ROLLER VACUUM EXTRACTOR Filed Sept. 23, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Suventoz Gztm a E Pie/3L5: $391 5 Ell M Dec: 18, 1928 1,695,974

a. PEEBLE S ROLLER VACUUM EXTRACTOR Filed Sept.23, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ammo/"box GEORGE PEEBLES Dec. 18, 1928. 1,695,974

G. PEEBLES ROLLER VACUUM EXTRACTOR Filed Sept. 23, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Slywemtoz GEORGE PEEBLES 33,1 ms aum Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE PEEBLES, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO SELBEC, IN (2., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ROLLER VACUUM EXTRACTOR.

Application filed September 23, 1925. Serial No. 58,119.

I p of making textiles and paper.

The present invention has particular reference to a roller vacuum extractor umt,

which, especially when used in drying of textiles, gives a uniformity of extraction that is impossible to obtain at the present time by the well-known centrifugal method. The use of rollers in the process of paper manufacture is particularly desirable because it insures longer life for the felt wire, avoids rips and tears and extracts'thc water from the paper while allowing a low- -er steam pressure to be maintained in thc' calender rolls.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a vacuum box of this character which is applicable to varying widths of machines and I accomplish this ,object by an arrangement of a shield whereby itis possible to accommodate almost any width desired. I r

A further purpose of this invention is the provision of certain novel features of arrangement and constructionmf parts, comprising rolls, suction box and plugs, which form th'ree sidesof a closed-box, the fourth side being formed by a travelling belt,

whereby suction applied to the box, must of necessity extract water from the paper stock through the felt belt and be drawn away through the piping to the suction pump.

The invention" is illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a paper-making machine equipped with my improved type of roller vacuum extractor; Figure 2 is a plan View of the roller vacuum extractor; Figure 3 is a plan view on an enlarged scale-of one end of the device and Figure 4 is a substantially longitudinal sectional view through a roller and associated parts of the box;'Figure 5 is a substantially longitudinal sectional view of the suction box and taken on a center line of the device; Figure 6 is a substantially transverse sectional view taken on lines-6-6 of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a transverse sectional View taken on lines 7-Zfof Figure 5; Figure 8 10 is a' transverse sectional view taken on lines 10 1O of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, 10 denotes the standards of a cylinder machine, which is illustrated to show my improved roller vacuum extractor embodied therein, but it will be clear to those skilled in'thc art that the installation is applicable equally well to wet machines used in the manufacture of cotton or woolen goods, and which is provided with the usual number of rollers 11 supported on the standards and adapted to .carry the cloth fabric 12 in the well-known the rollers 16 and having its surfaces machined where contact with the rollers is made. The top surface of the web 17 is also machined on an elevation corresponding substantially with longitudinal center line of the rollers 16. The box 13 is tapped to receive a pipe connection 18 with a vacuum pump, not shown.-

The main rollers 16 are disposed on the same elevation and operate parallel to one another. They are constructed preferably of brass pipe, machined to a true surface. The ends of each pipe are provided with extension pieces 19 brazed in the brass and having suitably turned ends 20 which accommodate annular ball bearings 21 and which terminate in short shafts 22 and carry spur gears 23. The gears 23 are keyed to the shafts 22. The ball bearings 21 are of the usual type havinginner and outer rings 24: and. intermediate balls 25, the outer rings being bolted to the ends of the suction box 13 and protected by suitable covers or caps 26 which embrace the shafts 22 and, screw into the openings in the box. The casing 27 forming part of the suction box 13 carries on the vertical. center line a stud shaft 28 secured in position by a set screw-29 and having a spur gear 30 and sprocket 31 rotatno i mesh'with each of the other gears 23.

ably mounted on its outer end. The spur gear 30 is driven by the sprocket and is in It is intended to provide a set of gears for each end of' the device, but only one drive sprocket is needed and may be driven by a chain operated by asprocket carried on any shaft, not shown, but located at a convenient place in the. paper machine, the rate of speed of rotation of the sprockets being such as to give the same surface speed to the rollers as that maintained by the belt. Located at spaced intervals throughout the length of the rollers 16 and arranged there between are spacing rollers 31 mounted in the ends of upright rods 3 which are screwed at their from the bottom wall of the box, the purpose of the spacing rollers 31 being to support the main rollers and prevent deflection thereof towards each other, a phenomenon due to unbalanced forces (atmospheric pressure on the outer half circumference of the rollers and vacuum of approximately 15 inches on the inner half circumference).

Embracing one quarter of the upper circumferences of adjacent rollers '16 and dis posed at opposite endsthereof are adjusting plugs 33 comprising T-shaped members the under surfaces of the lateral arms being machined to fit closely the curved surfaces of the rollers. of each plug 33-is provided with a sheet metal shield 34 which extends transversely of the plugfa shortdistance beyond the edges of the latter, these projecting portions of the shield 34 being for the purpose of presenting a curved entering surface for the overlapping edges of the belt. The steam ortions of the plugs 33 rest upon the upper ace of the webs 17 projecting upright from the bottom" of the suction box 13. The depending stem of. the plug 33 is provided with a plurality of aligned openings or boxes 35 through which a pin 36 may be inserted, the latter being disposed to bear against the outer surface of two relatively small lugs 37 cast as a. part of the bearing casing 27. The purpose of the lugs 37 is to prevent the plug 33 from being drawn inward by the action of the suction in the box. Various widths of paper stock may be accommodated by adjusting the pin 36 to any one-of boxes 35. Preferably the inner edge of the pin 36 is setso as to just underlap' the edges of the paper stock.

Arranged on each side of the suction box 13 and held in contact with both the latter and the under side of a main roller 13 are strips 38 of hard rubber, preferably rectangular in transverse section and of a length The upperor outer surface thereof and fitting the corners of the rubber seals 38, as illustrated clearly in Figure 9. The metal strips 39 are adjusted toward the rubber seals 38 by means of screws 40 is" Jposed in uniform spaced relation with respect to each other, each screw being carried by an-inclined flange or extension 41 on the outside of each upright wall of the suction box 13. Each screw 40 is further provided with a lock nut 42 adjustable over the screw and against the flange 41 to lock the screw itself in adjusted position.

A complete seal between the rollers and box is effected by the provision of end seals each of which comprises a curved rubber member 43 of substantial thickness having one'edge beveled, as illustrated in Figure 4, to fit a correspondingly beveled or counter-sunk end wall of the suction box. The

sealsof which there are two sets at an end are shaped to embrace the inner half ci'rcumference of the main rollers 16 and abut at their oneend against the side seals 38 and at their other end against the under side of the adjustable plug 33 and shield 34. The lower quarter end seals 43 are retained and pressed into place by a follower '44, which is 'triangularly shaped and providedwith a curved recess on two sides to receive the end of the seals. 43, and which carries a screw bolt 45 adjustable in a threaded opening 46 in the center vertfcal web 17 of the suction box. The upper quarters of the seals 43 are pressed into contact with the periphery of the roller by the shield itself. I,

In Figures 1 and 10, atravelling felt belt 47 is illustrated supported on the main rollers 16 and forming between the latter one wall of the suction chamber. The other walls as described, comprise the suction box itself and plugs. Therefore any vacuum maintained in the space be'tween f, elt and other walls will of necessity draw'any water from the paper stock 48, resting on the 'felt belt through the latter and conduct the water through suitable pipe connection to a suction pump. v

Having now described the nature of my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for extracting liquid from saturated fabric, in combination, a vacuum box having side and end walls, spaced rollers g journalled in said end walls and each thereof having its upper surface tangent with the fabric. sealing ,means arranged between each side wall and the adjacent surface of a roller comprising a strip of rectangular compressible section sealing material, a backing strip for the sealing material and adjustable means carried by the side walls of the box and engagedwith the backing to hold the sealing material in contact. with both the surfaces of the roller and side wall.

2. In a machine for extracting liquid from saturated fabric carrying paper stock, in combination, a vacuum box having side and end walls spaced rollers journalled in said end walls, each roller having its upper surface tangent with the fabric, plugs adjustably supported at opposite ends of the box 'to draw the liquid from the fabric into the box 3. In a machine for extracting liquid from saturated fabric carrying paper stock in combination, a vacuum box having side and end walls and an upstanding longitudinally disposed center web at opposite ends of the box, spaced rollers journalled in said end walls, each roller having its upper surface tangent with the fabric, adjustable plugs supported on the said webs and having 'a portion of their surfaces closely embracing the upper surfaces of the rollers, compressible means for sealing the spaces between the rollers and box, and screw adjustments for supporting and urging the side sealing means against the roller and .box, whereby vacuum in the latter will tend to draw the liquid from the fabric into the box.

4. In a machine for extracting liquid from saturated fabric in the manufacture of paper and the like, in combinatioma vacuum box f and rollers.

having side and end walls and an upstanding longitudinally disposed center web at each end, spaced rollers journalled in said end walls and having their upper surfaces, tangent with the said fabric, the lower surfaces of the rollers being spaced above the upper ends of the side walls of the box, ad-

justable plugs supported on the webs and havingoppositely extending portion closely embracing the u per surfaces of the rollers,

- a shield for eaci plug comprising a metal member arranged on the plug and extending beyond the latter at each side and curved to embrace closely the surface of the rollers beyond the plug, adjustable compressible sealing means between the rollers and the I, adjacent side walls, and screw ad'ustments for supporting and urging the si e sealing meansagamst the roller and box, whereby vacuum'in the box .will tendto draw the liquid from the. fabric into the box,

, 5. In a vacuum box, the combination with a trough-shaped member having side and end walls of'rollers journalled in the end walls and arranged over the side walls, a

plug and shield for opposite ends of the box, means for adjusting plugs with respect to the ends of the rollers, compressible means for sealing the space between the rollers and side walls, and screw adjustments for supporting and urging the side sealing means against the roller and box, and compressible means for sealing the spaces between the ends of the rollers and walls.

6. In a vacuum box, the combination with a trough-shaped receptacle having side walls, end walls and a center web adjacent each end of spaced rollers journalled in said end walls, plugs between the rollers at opposite ends,

and means for adjusting ,the plugs longitudinally of the rollers, comprising a removably insertable member for a series of spaced openings in the plug, said member 'belng adapted to bear against a portion of the end wall to prevent the plug being drawn inwardly by the vacuum in the box. 7. In a maclnne for extracting liquid from saturated fabric, in combination, a vacuum box having side and end walls and a center web adjacent each end, a pair of spaced rollers journalled in the end walls and having their lower surfaces arranged just above the side walls, and adjustable plugs arranged on each web and having a shleld embracing the upfer surfaces of the rollers, sealing strips or the spacesbetween the rollers and side walls, backing pieces for the strips, adjustable screws carried by the box and 'adaptedto engage the backing strips and cause the sealing strips to. press close the space between the wall and roller, and resilient end seals embracing the surfaces of the rollers overlying the interior of the vacuum box, and means for, acking the end seals against a portion'of t e end walls.

8. In a machine for extracting liquid from saturated fabric, in comblnatlon, a vacuum box comprising a base plate with upstand ing strips of sealing material disposed against the side walls and means for adjusting the material upwardly along the side walls on the vertical center lines of the rollers to seal the spaces between the latter and the side walls.

9. In a machine for extracting liquid from saturated fabric, in combination, a vacuum box having side and end walls, spaced rollers journalled in said end walls, adjustable sealing means between the rollers and the walls, and means arranged between the rollers to prevent the latter from deflecting towards each other;

10. In avacuum box of the character described the combination of spaced rollers against the seal to close the space between the roller and box.

11. In a machine for extractingliquid from saturated fabric, "in combination, a vacuum box, having 'side and end walls and extensions to receive bearin s, the space between' side and end walls a bridge portion projecting inwardly from the end, the bridge portion having an upeing closed by standing longitudinal central web, rollers through openings in the extensions, P1118, I

insertable in said perforations to engage the extensions and fix the positions of the plugs, shields for the plugs having their sides curved to closely embrace the surfaces of the rollers beyond the plugs, and side'and end seals adjust-able into contact with the' rollers and side and endwalls.

In testimony whereof he has afiixed his signature.

GEORGE PEEBLES, 

